Cooperation of Sarajevo and Banja Luka is good for the entire country and it is one of the rare positive messages today, Banja Luka Mayor Igor Radojicic said Wednesday following a meeting with the Sarajevo Canton delegation he hosted in his city.
One of the opportunities where the two cities could intensify the cooperation is the nomination of Banja Luka for European Capital of Culture 2024, Radojicic said.
“Our junior partners in that project are Bihac and Jajce. One of the segments is a coalition of cities and we believe Sarajevo could take part in that with some projects, especially owing to a historic, since the year 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the Winter Olympic Games,” he added.
Banja Luka is interested in cooperation in the sectors of economy and tourism, while the two cities could apply together for communal projects with the European Union.
“Messages of cooperation between Sarajevo and Banja Luka are very good for the entire country and they show it is possible to work and work together,” said Banja Luka mayor pointing out that such meetings are “one of the rare positive messages on our political sky.”
Speaking on behalf of the Sarajevo delegation, Edin Forto, Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister, expressed pleasure for being invited to the meeting.
“We would sincerely want Banja Luka to win the competition for the European Capital of Culture and we would like to help in that with our culture minister and our 14 cultural institutions,” he said.
Banja Luka is the second largest Bosnian city, in the northwest of the country. It is the administrative centre of one of two Bosnia's semi-autonomous regions, Republika Srpska.
Along with Norway's Bodø and Bosnian southern city of Mostar, Banja Luka has been shortlisted in the competition for the title of European Capital of Culture 2024 in a city from an EFTA/EEA country, a candidate country or a potential candidate to EU membership.
Short-listed cities have until summer, 2019 to complete their applications and independent experts will then meet again in the second half of 2019 to make their final recommendation.
